Beauty Ideas That Save Time, Money, and Sanity

Beauty Shortcuts of the Pros

One way to simplify your beauty regimen is to cut out steps. That sounds good in theory, but it doesn’t always play out. Here’s what the experts say they’ve decided to forgo, and they’re pulling it off beautifully. Just let go of...

A Complicated Evening Skin-Care Routine
“I use a retinol cream with an antioxidant in it—two potent anti-agers—so I don’t need to layer products,” says New York City dermatologist Debra Jaliman. “And I keep it right next to my bed so that once I’m nestled in for the evening I won’t be tempted to skip it.”

Facials
“All that steam, coupled with the trauma of squeezing the skin for extractions, can weaken your blood vessels. This can be a recipe for broken capillaries,” says Gervaise Gerstner, a dermatologist in New York City. If you consider the relaxation reason enough to indulge, your money would be better spent on a massage, says Gerstner.

Toner
“In the past, many facial soaps were alkaline, so you may have needed an acidic toner to bring your skin back to a neutral pH. Now cleansers are typically formulated to be near the pH of the skin, so you rarely need toner,” says Jennifer Linder, a dermatologist in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Eyeliner
“I wiggle the mascara wand into the base of my lashes so it looks like I’ve lined when I haven’t,” says New York City makeup artist Amy Kernahan.

Frequent Trims and Color
“I go months between appointments,” says Danielle Pfeifer, a colorist at Sharon Dorram Color at Sally Hershberger, in New York City. “It’s all about having a good shape that looks neat while it grows out.” The same holds true for color. “I go longer than the recommended 12 weeks between appointments,” says Pfeifer. “A little root is modern. Really.”

Manicures
“I buff my fingers and polish only my toes,” says Jaliman. “I use my hands a lot and hate chips. No one can tell the last time you buffed.”